Paeds Cases · paediatric-dermatology
Molluscum contagiosum and viral warts — clinical case
A clinical case of a child with both molluscum contagiosum and a common viral wart in the setting of atopic dermatitis, illustrating conservative-first assessment, counselling, and shared decision-making.
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A 4-year-old boy presents with a six-month history of small, shiny, pearly papules in both axillae that have gradually increased in number, and a rough, firm grey-brown papule on the side of his right thumb present for four months. He has a history of atopic dermatitis, attends swimming lessons weekly, and has a younger sibling. His mother is anxious that the lesions will scar and spread to his brother, and she asks for them to be frozen off today. He is otherwise well, growing normally, and fully immunised. [2]
References3ShowHide
- [2]Schaffer JV, Berger EM Molluscum Contagiosum JAMA Dermatol, 2016.PMID 27627044
- [3]Olsen JR, Gallacher J, Finlay AY, et al Time to resolution and effect on quality of life of molluscum contagiosum in children in the UK: a prospective community cohort study Lancet Infect Dis, 2015.PMID 25541478
- [8]Kwok CS, Gibbs S, Bennett C, et al Topical treatments for cutaneous warts Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2012.PMID 22972052